• Small, barn-style doors for boot access
• Rival compact hatchbacks are roomier
• Plenty of storage cubbies up front

How much space is there?

Pitched as the more practical MINI, the Clubman is nevertheless sized so that it can’t step on the Countryman‘s toes too much. How you perceive the space will then depend on where you’re coming from – step down from a Countryman and it will feel cramped, upgrade from a Hatch and it will feel palatial.

In reality the Clubman isn’t as practical as a more conventional competitor such as Audi’s A3 Sportback. For starters, the rear doors are quite small and the rear seats set quite far forward, so you may wrestle to fit child seats in place – though Isofix mounts do help proceedings – while those with limited or restricted mobility may struggle to get in and out easily.

Once in place, though, leg- and headroom is acceptable, but certainly generous, although the dark materials used across most of the Clubman range conspire to make it feel rather claustrophobic in the back row. Two adults should manage to occupy the rear bench in reasonable comfort, but a third will make it feel especially cosy.

That’s not an issue faced by front seat passengers, who enjoy large, comfortable seats with lots of adjustment. The extra width over the MINI Hatch can be keenly felt with lots of elbow room and a practical console section offering cupholders and additional storage. The Clubman’s upright windscreen also ensures it feels quite airy in the front.

Boot space and storage

Around the back, the Clubman’s twin barn-style doors are a mixed blessing. They spring open with plenty of pace, which can be surprising if you’re not expecting it, while electrical opening and closing is also available – great for a bit of street theatre for passers-by.

Access is good when both doors are opened – plus, it’s very easy to simply open one to quickly sling in a shopping bag. Where they particularly pose an issue is if you prefer to reverse into parking spaces as they need a fair bit of room to open. Even more space would be required if it was a conventional top-hinged tailgate fitted to the Clubman, but most conventional hatchbacks of a similar size would require less space thanks to their tapered rear ends. Don’t forget that the join between the doors also leaves a blindspot in the middle of the rear view.

As for the bootspace the doors reveal, it’s merely okay rather than impressive at 360 litres with the rear seats in place, a figure beaten by the Audi A3 Sportback (380 litres), BMW 1 Series Sports Hatch (380 litres, also) and Mercedes-Benz A-Class Hatcback (370 litres). It’s ony when you fold them over that the MINI (just) trumps them with 1,250 litres of cargo space.

There is also a moveable boot floor that can either be lowered to provide maximum boot space or raised to make a usefully-sized underfloor storage compartment. It’s also worth noting that All4 models with four-wheel drive have exactly the same boot volume dimensions, so no compromises there.

How easy is it to park?

Okay, it’s not exactly a mini MINI, but at 4,266mm long the Clubman is still a compact car, so weaving in and out of urban rat runs or confined car parks is unlikely to pose much bother. Barring the rear end, it’s easy to see out of in all directions, with plenty of glass, plus parking sensors and an available camera system should help prevent inadvertent nudges and scrapes on bumpers.

Safety

• Four-star rating from Euro NCAP 
• Decent amount of safety kit available
• Few have four-wheel drive fitted

The MINI Clubman scored four out of a possible five stars in Euro NCAP safety testing when it was assessed back in 2015 – not the top score, but in fairness it is tougher for smaller cars to reach the full five-star rating.

Though its 90% score in the Adult Occupant category was impressive, scores of 68%, 68% and 67% for child, pedestrian and safety equipment categories are less so. Full results can be found below.

All models do get Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), an audible forward collision warning, plus eight airbags in total as part of the standard-fit equipment.

All4 four-wheel drive is now only available on the flagship JCW model, but previously it was available further down the range, although it wasn’t an especially popular choice.

Regardless of whether you’re taken by the newer Union flag tail lights, the fact that they’re illuminated by LEDs – as are the headlamps, indicators and daytime-running lights on the latest models – means you’ll see and be seen more readily. 

You will also notice that there’s a set of supplementary lights set into the rear bumper. It’s not an especially elegant fixture, but they’re legally required to ensure the tail remains illuminated even when the rear doors are open.

Additional safety gear is also available at extra cost including a sharp head-up display (HUD) package that projects key driving data onto a transparent panel that’s more in your driving eye-line than the regular instruments.

Watch MINI Clubman Euro NCAP crash test video